Wal-Mart staged its first-ever runway show during February’s Olympus Fashion Week in New York. Its collection is a departure for the store, which is better known more for offering discounted home necessities.

The new venture is drawing attention.

Wal-Mart spokesperson Linda Blakley noted that “fashion editors for national magazines and style and fashion editors from newspapers across the country” viewed Metro 7′s spring and summer collections.

The success of Target’s fashion lines, notably those by Isaac Mizrahi and Luella Bartley, inspired other budget-minded retailers to reassess their clothing offerings. Wal-Mart decided to take the next step after noticing fashionable shoppers would visit the store for groceries and other basics but bypass the clothing and accessories departments.

The line, which is exclusive to the store and ranges in size from small to extra-large, features on-trend clothing such as the whites and neutrals seen in department stores and boutiques. A cotton-belted trench in Tahiti blue, eggshell and flax for $32.94 caught my eye as did a crochet wrap in soothing spring colors for $26.94. Colorful and flowing empire-waist tops for $16.94 and lined, prairie-style tiered skirts for $24.94 were also attractive buys.

The difference between the fabrics and detailing of Metro 7 and that of other clothing lines at Wal-Mart is apparent. But will these fashions, like those at Target, pull shoppers into the department store or prompt them to make an impulse buy?

Jewelry, purses and belts also have been added to Metro 7.

The store has taken steps to improve the presentation of the clothing. When I stopped by Wal-Mart to check out the line, I noticed that the flooring was a wood laminate and the dressing rooms, while not fancy, were spacious.

As Metro 7 evolves, don’t be surprised to see more Wal-Mart advertisements in glossy fashion magazines; it has already placed ads in Vogue. Also, a hip men’s line called Exsto will launch this summer.

Who knows? Wal-Mart may soon dress even the most discriminating Shop Girls and Shop Boys.

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As part of this same trend, have you heard about the new “luxury” Wal-Mart in Plano, a wealthy suburb north of Dallas? It’s a 200,000-square-foot superstore with wood floors and employees dressed in khaki outfits instead of blue smocks. They sell such fripperies as $550 bottles of wine. The sporting goods department has abandoned rifles and ammo for yuppie exercise equipment.

Wal-Mart is using this store as a test market to see if it’s worth expanding. Early indications are that it’s a roaring success, but time will tell if that’s just the novely factor.